Richard Lindner was born in Hamburg in 1901. After studying at the School of Applied Arts in Nuremberg, he emigrated to the United States in the early 1940s. In New York, the German-American artist found his inspiration and developed a deep affection for the city. The life of the metropolis fascinated him, even though he always perceived himself as a stranger and a distant observer. On the streets he discovered the motifs for his works: neon signs, advertising displays, department stores, and pedestrians. Richard Lindner is regarded as a founder of Pop Art and as one of the most important artists of the 20th century.
This color print, published in 1970 by Manus-Presse in Stuttgart as part of Richard Lindner’s “Marily was here” series, presents a vibrant, pop-infused depiction of a female figure set against a radiant, geometrically structured background. The figure appears as a silhouetted presence, while bold tones of red, yellow, blue, and violet energize the composition. Two stylized “M” initials playfully allude to Marilyn Monroe, whom Lindner evokes not through a literal portrait but through color, symbolism, and contour.
The striking color fields and expressive line work create a dynamic tension between the figure and the abstract stage-like setting—an essential characteristic of Lindner’s Pop Art vocabulary. In this chromatic version, the visual intensity of the motif comes to the forefront: the brilliance of the palette underscores both the iconic aura of Marilyn Monroe and the constructed nature of her public image. The composition thus merges formal clarity with vibrant color, offering a reflection on the cultural elevation of the Pop icon.